The town of Bourgas is situated on the coast of the Black Sea in Bourgas Bay on a flat country known as Bourgas plate. The average altitude is 17 m. To the north and to the south of Bourgas there are salt lakes, which are protected areas because of the fact that they are a part of the Via Pontica route of migrating birds.
     The climate is of the moderate continental type with a definite influence of the sea. Summer is pleasantly fresh because of the constant movements of the air. The average day temperature of the air during the summer is 26.4° C, and the temperature of the sea water - 24.8° C. There are between 24 and 27 sunny days per month during the summer period with an average of 10-11 sunny hours in a 24-hour period. The winter is mild with no snow. The average day temperature of the air during the winter is 4.6° C, and that of the sea water - 7.4° C. Because of the influence of the sea the autumn is long and warmer than it is in the country, and the spring is comparatively cold and usually comes one month later than normal.
     The region is the second largest in the country, after the Sofia region, with its area amounting to 7753.14 square km. The population of the region is 440372 inhabitants in 255 settlements, 16 of which are towns and 239 - villages. Nearly 69,9% of the population live in the towns and 30,2% -in the villages. The density of population of Bourgas region is 55.1 people per square km whilst for the whole country this parameter is 74.6 people per sq. km. More than 15 000 companies are registered in Bourgas, and the unemployment is the lowest in the whole of the country - 4.3 %. Bourgas is an important industrial, commercial, transport and tourist center. Nowadays the city has great economic potential.
     One of the biggest industrial plants on the Balkan peninsula, Neftochim-EAD, is located in the vicinity of the city. A Duty Free Zone was established in 1989 with the objective to create most attractive conditions for foreign investors. Bourgas has the biggest port in the country with the only petrol terminal south to the Balkan mountain. The railway and road networks are well developed. The airport has the best atmospheric conditions on the Balkan peninsular and is the only airport to accept ultrasonic airplanes.
     To the East Bourgas borders on the Black Sea, this offers great possibilities for the development of the sea transport, foreign trade, fishing and resorting. Intensive economic links are maintained with Northern Bulgaria thanks to the convenient road passes through the eastern part of the Balkan range. To the South the Bourgas region borders on the Republic of Turkey.
     The following international roads cross the territory of Burgas:
     The panorama road Konstanca - Varna - Bourgas - Malko Turnovo - Istanbul crosses the territory of the region The Pan-European transport corridor No.8-Scopie - Sofia - Bourgas - Varna
     Thanks to the sea, the industrial activities (chemistry, machine-building, transport)and the small distance between Bourgas and the other big cities in Bulgaria and the capital (which doesn't make the city of Bourgas a satellite city), Bourgas has its own spiritual and cultural atmosphere. It is a big educational, scientific and arts centre. On the territory of Bourgas municipality there are 2 universities and 4 colleges comprising more than 6200 Bulgarian and foreign students.
     Bourgas is the center of the tourism industry on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It is also a starting point for visiting the Black Sea summer resorts and vacation villages around the city - Sunny Beach, Elenite, Dunes, the towns - museums Nessebar and Sozopol, the Ropotamo reserve, the Strandzha nature park.
     Bourgas and its region are offering a rich variety of opportunities. To the north of Bourgas 120 km away is Varna - the other big sea town in Bulgaria. It takes about two hours by car or bus to reach Varna. It will take you only half an hour to go to Sunny Beach - one of the most famous summer resorts in Bulgaria, and to the vacation village "Elenite". In the same direction is the old town of Nessebar - a town-museum which has kept the ruins of the ancient Roman town Messemvria. To the south of Bourgas there are also many summer resorts and vacation villages - Chernomorez, Primorsko, Kiten, Lozenez, Tsarevo, Ahtopol. In the same direction there is the town-museum Sozopol, the vacation village Dunes, the International Youth Centre - Primorsko.
     In Bourgas there are many places of interest The District Museum of History, founded in 1925, is one of the most impressive tourist sights in the city. Today it houses an archaeological hall with a rich collection of items dating back to the old colonies along the Black Sea coast. The Ethnographic Museum is also of particular appeal to foreigners for its exhibitions of masks of koukeri, traditional costumes, ritual accessories, fabrics and embroidery. Among the church buildings, one may wish to visit the St. St. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral, which raises near the marketplace. The cathedral is interesting for its marvelous frescos and wooden altar. Another impressive sight of Bourgas is the Armenian Church located close to Bulgaria Hotel. It was built in 1855 by the local Armenian minority supported by Bulgarians. Finally, a philharmonic hall, an opera house, a drama theatre and a puppet theater are hosted in beautiful buildings and function during the entire season.
     Away from the busy centre of the city, the shady Sea Garden is a lovely place to stroll in hot summer days. The park is situated on a hill next to the coast, and is rich in flowers, trees and sculptures. Within the park there is a casino, a small zoo and an open-air theatre.
     The lake of Pomorie is located 20 km north of Bourgas. The lake is surrounded by salt-mines and spa resorts. The Atanassovo Lake is to the north, too, between the airport and the city. It is 10 km long and once was a nestling site of many marsh and sea birds migrating from Gibraltar and the Bosphorus. Part of the lake is a natural reserve. There are sites for fishing, swimming and having a rest. The Bourgas Lake is a nestling site of pelicans, ibis, and herons. It offers many opportunities for having a rest as well. The Mandren Lake is 10 km south of the city and is also an important ornithological reserve with a large bird population in the summer. It is also appropriate for rowing tours and recreation.
     The St. Anastasia Island is 3 nautical miles east of the city. The island has a well-preserved old church and was used for the exile of left-wing revolutionaries in 1923-1925, and anti-Fascists in 1943-1944. That is why the island was named Bolshevik for some years during communist times. The salt-mines of Bourgas may be also a sight of interest. They border the Bourgas Lake, and some of them even stretch to the Atanassovo Lake. Mineral water baths can be found 13km north-west of the city on the way to Aitos. The baths are built over the remains of an old Roman town called Aetos. The present-day baths were built in the 16th century during Ottoman rule and are still functioning. There is curing mud, a balneo-spa, a polyclinic, and a holiday house.
     Bourgas has many hotels of different categories, private lodgings, and also two big camping sites in its vicinity. The most famous hotels are Park Hotel, situated on the banks of the Atanassovo Lake, Primorets Hotel, Bulgaria Hotel and Cosmos Hotel. While all these offer top-quality service at high prices, cheaper accommodation can be found in small private hotels in the suburbs. The city is full of restaurants, pubs, beer-houses, taverns, and refreshment stalls and groceries. The most famous restaurants are National, Staryat Pristan, Starata Gemiya, Bourgaska Sreshta, as well as hotels' restaurants. Most of the high-class restaurants have live music, while some offer show programmes, too.
     The Bourgas Airport operates regular flights to Sofia every day. During the summer season, there are up to 7 flights daily in both directions. Flying time to the capital city is about 40min. The airport is an international one and sees increased traffic, including charter flights, during the summer. The railway station of Bourgas has connections to all parts of the country. The express train to Sofia travels less than 6.30 hours. The city's central bus station is located next to the railway station. Buses to the country's largest cities, including Sofia start from there. There are also a lot of private carriers that offer transport to towns and resorts to the north and south of Bourgas along the coast. There is regular city transport - buses, trolley-buses and route taxis.